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Paul Moran

For 30 years, more than 22 at Newsday, in New York, Paul Moran has covered thoroughbred racing on its highest level. During that time, he has covered 30 Triple Crown series, every running of the Breeders' Cup Championships, 23 race meetings at Saratoga, won two Eclipse Awards, a Red Smith Award for coverage of the Kentucky Derby and other writing awards from the National Society of Newspaper Editors, Long Island Press Club, Society of Silurians (the oldest press club in New York), Long Island Veterinary Medical Association, Florida Magazine Publishers Association.

In 2002, he was named New York's best thoroughbred handicapper by the New York Press in its annual "Best of Manhattan" edition. His work has appeared in virtually every racing publication published in the United States and most major American newspapers. He is a licensed owner of thoroughbreds in New York Contact: paulmoran47@hotmail.com.

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Saturday, May 09, 2009

Wealthy people spend fortunes on horses for many reasons but the après-Kentucky Oaks purchase of Rachel Alexandra by vintner and self-appointed savior of racing Jess Jackson this week for a figure believed to be $10 million is a rare acquisition indeed: A vanity purchase.

It is highly unlikely that Rachel Alexandra will earn $10 million beneath Jackson’s colors, which she will likely carry into the Preakness next week. Her value as a broodmare is nowhere near that figure since she is likely to deliver no more than 10 foals in her lifetime. But really rich people can have almost anything they want and this is an example.

The warm and fuzzy part of this story – the small-time owners and aging small-time trainer with the horse of a lifetime – no longer applies. Jackson travels with a cadre of dour and menacing security people far removed from warm and fuzzy and is never far removed from a publicist. He also loves the limelight and finding himself removed from the center of attention after the retirement of his two-time Horse of the Year, he bought his way back in and for another $100,000, he will buy his way into the Triple Crown, put himself in position, in fact, to go down in history as the owner of the Horse of the Year for three consecutive seasons.

And then, he will breed Rachel Alexandra to Curlin, a historic mating to be sure.

This is not an accomplishment but a transaction in the style of IEAH Stable or Arab nobility. The Kentucky Oaks winner is in Steve Asmussen’s barn now, one of hundreds scattered at racetracks from Louisiana to New York. Hal Wiggins, her former trainer, feels the loss more than acutely than Asmussen will celebrate the addition to his arsenal. He trained Curlin and scores of stakes winners. The second-best horse Wiggins trained is …?

Jackson is an important patron of the sport, but there is something crass about his acquisition of the season’s most celebrated 3-year-old filly. The good feeling part of this story has evaporated with the reminder that regular people fortunate enough to own extraordinary horses seldom live the dream to its conclusion. Someone with a bigger ego and unlimited resources will make an offer that is impossible to refuse. -- PM

Thanks Paul; excellent. You speak for most. Nevertheless, for all their great arsenal, despite their unlimited wealth and resources these people cannot buy or breed and develop the champions from the beginning they so dearly long to do. For that they must pay.

Your (and At the Races’ Steve Byk’s) abhorrance for Jackson - in this instance - is ridiculous. It’s not as if he was carrying a gun and forced Rachel Alexandra’s previous owners to sell. Jess Jackson does not have the power of eminent domain to compel someone to sell a horse to him. They could have said “no”. You want warm and fuzzy? Buy a teddy bear.

I seldom agree with you Paul but in this case you are right on. It is for the same reason that I do not root for Godolphin. Sure the previous owner could have said no but when Jackson threw an insane figure at them saying no would have been foolish. Maybe if she wins the Preakness Godolphin will offer Jackson $100M???

You got every word of that right. And the sad thing is the horse will be the one to pay the price. Not only is she shouldering the expectations being placed on her, but she’s doing it while adjusting to new handlers, trainers, & schedule. Her times are impressive for a filly, but right in the pack for the males. She will be just another horse running in the Preakness.

Shlomo,
You’re on the money, my friend!!
Moran finds something wrong with everything.
A terrible columnist.
BTW- A group of us had the misfortune of running into him on a couple of occasions at taverns in Floral Park. You should see this guy with a few drinks in him!!

Thank you, Paul, you are right on as usual. I just wish Calvin had committed to his Derby mount. Expect that Jackson&co;will ditch CB when they are finished with him. Too bad Calvin does not see that coming.